Civil Services Examination-2026: New Restrictions Explained

New Delhi: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has laid down clear eligibility restrictions for candidates intending to appear for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026, particularly for those already appointed or selected to various services through earlier examinations.

Candidates who are already appointed to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or Indian Foreign Service (IFS) from an earlier examination and are currently in service are not eligible to appear for CSE-2026. Even if such candidates clear the CSE-2026 Preliminary Examination but get appointed to IAS or IFS before the Mains examination, they will not be allowed to write the Mains. Further, if appointment to IAS or IFS happens after the Mains examination begins but before the final results, the CSE-2026 result will not be considered for any service allocation.

Candidates selected or appointed to the Indian Police Service (IPS) through an earlier CSE are allowed to appear for CSE-2026, but they cannot be allocated IPS again through this examination.

Candidates who are allotted IPS or any Group ‘A’ service through CSE-2026 are permitted one additional attempt in CSE-2027, subject to strict conditions. Such candidates must obtain a one-time exemption from training with due permission from the competent authority. This exemption is allowed only once, and candidates must mandatorily join the Foundation Course. Failure to either join training or secure exemption will result in cancellation of the service allocation.

If a candidate appears in CSE-2027 and is selected again, they will be given the option to choose between the service allocated through CSE-2026 or CSE-2027. The service not chosen will be cancelled. If no service is secured in CSE-2027, the candidate may still join the service allotted through CSE-2026. However, failure to join training for both examinations will lead to cancellation of both service allocations.

UPSC clarified that seniority will not be reduced and will depend on the date of actual joining of service. After joining a service through CSE-2026 or CSE-2027, candidates will not be permitted to appear for CSE-2028 or later examinations unless they resign from service.

Candidates wishing to retain their remaining attempts must refrain from joining any service allotted through CSE-2026 or CSE-2027, in which case the service allocation will automatically stand cancelled.

For candidates already allocated a service through CSE-2025 or earlier, UPSC allows a one-time opportunity to appear in either CSE-2026 or CSE-2027 without resigning from service. However, to appear for CSE-2028 or subsequent examinations, resignation from the existing service will be mandatory.